Leviticus-Chap-19-23-37
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Please Note: Some alterations or
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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which
I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM
IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction to Leviticus Part Two - Chapter
19:23-37: (JPS-1917 version
of the Torah).
In this concluding section of the “Holiness
Code”, the Torah moves from interpersonal ethics into the physical world and
our long-term presence in the Land. We see laws regarding the growth of trees,
physical appearance, and the treatment of the elderly and the stranger. The
recurring theme is mindfulness: being conscious
of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s (God) presence in every interaction, from the marketplace to the
way we treat a newcomer.
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Below is the ‘Text’ as well an excellent ‘Explanation’ based on (JPS-1917):
Verse 23: And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as forbidden; three years shall it be as forbidden unto you; it shall not be eaten.
Explanation: This is the law of Orlah. For the
first three years, the fruit of a tree is "”circumcised” or closed off,
teaching us patience and that we are not the ultimate owners of the land's
produce.
Verse 24: And in the
fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy, for giving praise unto יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: In the fourth year, the
harvest is dedicated to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, acknowledging that the ability for the earth to provide is a
Divine blessing.
Verse 25: And in the
fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit thereof, that it may yield unto you the
increase thereof: I am יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloheychem.
Explanation: Only after acknowledging אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s ownership for four years do we enjoy the full bounty. This
discipline ensures we do not become arrogant in our success.
Verse 26: Ye shall not eat
with the blood; neither shall ye practise augury, nor practise soothsaying.
Explanation: This forbids pagan
practices that attempt to manipulate or “peek” into the future. Instead, we are
to live with simple faith in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.
Verse 27: Ye shall not
round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou
mar the corners of thy beard.
Explanation: The Jewish appearance
(the Pe’ot) is a physical sign
of our identity, setting us apart from the grooming habits of idolatrous
priests of that era.
Verse 28: Ye shall not
make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor imprint any marks upon you: I
am יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: This prohibits tattoos
and self-mutilation. Our bodies are created in the Divine image and are on loan
to us; we must treat them with respect.
Verse 29: Profane not
thy daughter, to make her a harlot; lest the land fall into harlotry, and the
land become full of lewdness.
Explanation: This warns against any
form of sexual exploitation, which degrades the moral fabric of the entire
nation.
Verse 30: Ye shall keep
My Sabbaths, and reverence My sanctuary: I am יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: Respect for holy time (Sabbath)
and holy space (the Sanctuary)
are the twin pillars of a holy life.
Verse 31: Turn ye not
unto the ghosts, nor unto familiar spirits; seek them not out, to be defiled by
them: I am יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloheychem.
Explanation: Seeking “spiritual”
shortcuts through mediums or the occult is a defilement of the soul’s purity.
Verse 32: Thou shalt rise
up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and thou shalt
fear thy אֱלֹהִים - Elohim: I am יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: Respect for the elderly
is a religious obligation. Wisdom comes with age, and honouring the old is a
way of honouring the אֱלֹהִים - Elohim who gave them years.
Verse 33: And if
strangers sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not do him wrong.
Explanation: This is one of the most
repeated commands in the Torah. We must never use our power to mistreat someone
without a local support system.
Verse 34: The stranger
that sojourneth with you shall be unto you as the
home-born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers
in the
Explanation: Our own history of
suffering in
Verse 35: Ye shall do no
unrighteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight,
or in measure.
Explanation: Holiness extends to the
kitchen and the shop. Using dishonest scales is a spiritual failure.
Verse 36: Just balances,
just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloheychem, who brought you out of the
Explanation: Accurate measurements are
a matter of integrity. אֱלֹהִים - Elohim liberated us to be a people of absolute truth and fairness.
Verse 37: And ye shall
observe all My statutes, and all Mine ordinances, and
do them: I am יְהוָה - the LORD.
Explanation: The chapter concludes by
reminding us that the goal of all these laws is action (Mitzvot).
Study must lead to doing.
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My Closing Message:
Part Two of Chapter 19 teaches us that holiness
is found in the ordinary. It is found in how we treat a
tree, how we groom ourselves, how we stand up for an elder, and how we weigh
out grain in the market. Judaism refuses to separate “religious life” from
“commercial life”. To be a holy people, we must be honest in our business and
compassionate in our social circles, always remembering that "I am יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - “the LORD your Eloheychem”.
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